ABA therapy for selective mutism? | Imamother

Home

Home List of Forums + New Post Recipe Box Usergroups Following Log in

| | | | |

ABA therapy for selective mutism?

1, 2 Next

Forum -> Children's Health

View latest: 24h 48h 72h

amother

OP

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 5:43 pm

Does an aba help preschool age kids with selective mutism? He is already receiving speech therapy. He is very Normal, smart and plays and talks normally at home. Is an aba the right therapist to help?
If not, which?

amother

Red

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 6:26 pm

Find a play therapist. A psychologist or social worker who specializes in young children is trained for this!

4

amother

OP

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 6:30 pm

So an aba isn’t the right type of therapist?

amother

Salmon

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 6:33 pm

I know someone who successfully used an aba therapist for selective mutism. However I would advise you to only use someone who has had success in the past with selective mutism and who will give you names of parents you can speak to. Someone who uses the wrong approach can make it much much worse.

2

amother

Amber

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 6:33 pm

No not aba you need play therapy or a regular social worker that has experience with it.

1

mha3484

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 6:43 pm

Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder you want a therapist who is super knowledgeable in that area. Behavior therapy is likely to have the opposite effect

8

flowerpower

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 6:51 pm

Play therapist is the right approach. One trained in this area

amother

Bisque

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 6:55 pm

ABA is abusive. Just no.

1

5

amother

Aquamarine

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 7:42 pm

amother [ OP ] wrote:

Does an aba help preschool age kids with selective mutism? He is already receiving speech therapy. He is very Normal, smart and plays and talks normally at home. Is an aba the right therapist to help?
If not, which?

Please dont do ABA, it is abusive.

That said, this instagram account is discussing techniques to use with selective mutism in their stories, I believe they offer a course as well. Maybe reach out to them and see what they suggest-- https://www.instagram.com/handsonapproaches/

2

amother

Orange

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 7:43 pm

I JUST saw an amazing Instagram story on how to help this give by the Guttmann Sisters. It should be up for a little bit. Definitely check it out. https://instagram.com/stories/.....iuv48

Only up for 1 hour. Reaxh out to them. They may be able to help. Www.Instagram.com/handsonapproaches

amother

Indigo

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 8:10 pm

Why is aba abusive? Can you pls elaborate?

amother

Forestgreen

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 8:27 pm

There is a cd out there by Mrs shaindel something. I used to know and forgot. It is supposed to be amazing maybe someone on here knows about it. You can buy the cds

1

4pom

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 8:43 pm

mha3484 wrote:

Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder you want a therapist who is super knowledgeable in that area. Behavior therapy is likely to have the opposite effect

This!!!
Please, avoid ABA for selective mutism.
It is really the wrong approach.

There are trained therapists who can help.
Hatzlacha!

Last edited by 4pom on Sun, Jan 17 2021, 9:18 pm; edited 1 time in total

1

amother

Ecru

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 8:51 pm

I think it would be more helpful to train the teacher in how to behave with your child than to get therapy. And even if the teacher is doing all the right things it can still take months for the child to open up. I'm still waiting for mine to talk in class since September...

amother

Bisque

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 10:01 pm

amother [ Forestgreen ] wrote:

There is a cd out there by Mrs shaindel something. I used to know and forgot. It is supposed to be amazing maybe someone on here knows about it. You can buy the cds

Shaindel Cohen. She is amazing. She was unfortunately niftar this year but she also gave courses in her method. She has tens of students practicing her methods and they really go to the root of why a kid is dealing with it and how you can help them.

I know someone who took her course and has helped so many kids. I've seen the course material. Literally amazing stuff.

1

amother

Bisque

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 10:03 pm

amother [ Indigo ] wrote:

Why is aba abusive? Can you pls elaborate?

ABA puts a huge focus on behavior. Not on the child's feelings, making them feel loved, validated, understood, not taking their needs into consideration. It's about beahviours and acting perfect being the highest value.

There's lots of support groups for adults who went through ABA as children and still suffer from the detrimental affects. The autism community is pretty against it.

1

3

#BestBubby

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 10:10 pm

ABA Therapy is NOT appropriate for selective mutism.

ABA therapy is a method of teaching by breaking down skills into small steps

and/or a behavior plan where proper behavior is rewarded and inappropriate behavior is
ignored or dis-incentivised.

This is not the proper method to remediate selective mutism.

Children with selective mutism tend to be above average intelligence with an anxiety disorder
which is a different profile than children on the ASD spectrum.

An ABA Therapist CAN be effective if she has proper training and experience in remediating
selective mutism - but this the therapist will NOT be using "ABA" methods so one cannot assume
that an ABA therapist has the skills to remediate Selective Mutism unless this is verified.

3

amother

Bisque

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 10:14 pm

#BestBubby wrote:

ABA Therapy is NOT appropriate for selective mutism.

ABA therapy is a method of teaching by breaking down skills into small steps

and/or a behavior plan where proper behavior is rewarded and inappropriate behavior is
ignored or dis-incentivised.

This is not the proper method to remediate selective mutism.

Children with selective mutism tend to be above average intelligence with an anxiety disorder
which is a different profile than children on the ASD spectrum.

An ABA Therapist CAN be effective if she has proper training and experience in remediating
selective mutism - but this the therapist will NOT be using "ABA" methods so one cannot assume
that an ABA therapist has the skills to remediate Selective Mutism unless this is verified.

This is abusive. Teaching kids with ASD that their way of processing things is inherently wrong and inappropriate. The goal is to make them as "normal as possible" and usually teaches them behaviors that aren't harming others are bad and wrong.

It's abusive.

1

3

#BestBubby

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 10:20 pm

amother [ Bisque ] wrote:

This is abusive. Teaching kids with ASD that their way of processing things is inherently wrong and inappropriate. The goal is to make them as "normal as possible" and usually teaches them behaviors that aren't harming others are bad and wrong.

It's abusive.

ABA is about teaching children APPROPRIATE behavior.

If children do not learn appropriate behavior, social skills etc. they won't be able to make friends
or get a job.

How is teaching children proper behavior and social skills abusive?

PS. Even if humming to yourself and rocking back and forth isn't harming others, it is harmful to
the CHILD if that child wishes to be accepted - make friends, get a job, etc.

The children are not taught that inappropriate behavior is "bad" rather that there is proper behavior
in public and behavior that is OK when one is alone or with close family that will love you anyway
despite your "quirks".

3

amother

Bisque

Sun, Jan 17 2021, 10:26 pm

#BestBubby wrote:

ABA is about teaching children APPROPRIATE behavior.

If children do not learn appropriate behavior, social skills etc. they won't be able to make friends
or get a job.

How is teaching children proper behavior and social skills abusive?

PS. Even if humming to yourself and rocking back and forth isn't harming others, it is harmful to
the CHILD if that child wishes to be accepted - make friends, get a job, etc.

The children are not taught that inappropriate behavior is "bad" rather that there is proper behavior
in public and behavior that is OK when one is alone or with close family that will love you anyway
despite your "quirks".

Obviously one must learn to behave in public. But ABA teaches them behaviors are never acceptable. Kids with ASD rock and hum and do these things to process information, to feel safe, for many reasons. It's how their brain works. Taking that away from them is a abusive horrible thing to do.

There's other ways of teaching kids appropriate bahviour in public.

Like I said there's literally support groups online for adults with ASD who went through ABA.

How about ask the people with ASD if they think it's a good idea or not?

All frum society cares about it that you fit in and learn to be as little autistic as possible.

1

1, 2 Next

Page 1 of 2

View latest: 24h 48h 72h

Forum -> Children's Health

Related Topics		Replies	Last Post
	Virtual speech therapy by amother Toddlers	5	Sun, Feb 28 2021, 9:35 am by amother
	Homeopathy, energy healing, craniosacral therapy, yoga by amother Halachic Questions and Discussions	40	Thu, Feb 18 2021, 10:31 pm by amother
	advenium therapy by amother Children's Health	20	Thu, Feb 18 2021, 3:50 pm by amother
	Physical therapy for child on IEP- where to get by amother New York related Inquiries	2	Wed, Jan 27 2021, 12:42 pm by yidisheh mama
	Yeled V'Yalda ABA Boro Park by amother New York related Inquiries	11	Thu, Jan 21 2021, 10:52 pm by nanny24/7

Imamother is a community of frum Jewish women, where you can come to relax,
socialize, debate, receive support, ask questions and much more.

© 2021 Imamother.com - All rights reserved